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Traveller reviews

Travel reviews by C & J from Utah

Review Distribution

Excellent
Good
Average
Poor
Terrible

Total number of trips

1

Countries visited

2

Lodges stayed in

3

Excursions taken

0

Our Africa trip June-July 2018

Botswana and 1 other country between 26 Jun 2018 and 11 Jul 2018

Trip rating: Excellent
"We arrange many of our own trips as well as using travel services. We feel we got high value from the service provided by Megan at Expert Africa. She took loads of time to listen, consider our requirements and preferences. She made the suggestion that boosted our trip from good to great, hiring a private mobile guide service. Especially well done that it was Andrew. Top notch guiding was our priority. He met that and then some. He also makes a super camp, it truly defined "glamping"! We are going camping this weekend and we will laugh to think of no longer having a staff to wait on us and make camp!

The back and forth of the entire itinerary was time consuming, paring down stopovers, arranging guest houses. Megan was up to it and then some. She never failed to respond with timely, logical ideas. If we end up in London soon enough we'd love to stop at the office and shake her hand in thanks for her very professional, expedient work.

It was a trip of a lifetime, though we travel a lot. It bears now only great memories and nothing we would change. We have hundreds of fine photos that we are thoroughly enjoying. Carolyn's journal is loaded with entries describing our encounters, and sketches and paintings of the abundant beauty we shared.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Megan deserves a large Christmas bonus. At least a larger portion of plum pudding! We will refer our friends to you and use you again when Africa hits the travel calendar. Perhaps Tanzania or Madagascar. We do a different continent most every year."

Arranged By Megan Green


Thamalakane River Lodge

Thamalakane River Lodge

"Adequate accommodation for one night enroute"

1 night Arrived 26 Jun 2018
"The lodge "pick-up" was prompt and direct. The staff was helpful. The dining staff was very friendly. The room was attractive and clean.

Comparing to many other places in resort areas the price was easily twice the value. It seems there is little competition. We would next time at that price bypass a layover there and arrange to go directly out on safari."
Average
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average

Location
Good
Service
Excellent
Facilities
Good
Rooms
Good
Food
Average
Botswana Private Mobile Safari

Botswana Private Mobile Safari

"Harkness Mobile Safaris"

11 nights Arrived 27 Jun 2018
"Our experience met and surpassed all of our expectations. We found our guide/outfitter Andrew to be delightful fellow. He was at once casual, informative, enthusiastic, sharp eyed, a fount of info. His experience level was obviously high for a youngish man.

We easily agreed on our priorities and objectives, and spent little wasted time achieving them. That said, we did not wish to hurry our observations of various details of landscape, birds, and animals. He was willing to linger or give more info on many identifications or behavior questions. We had superb spotting of birds and mammals, thanks in part to his knowledge of places or time of day.

The daily schedule we agreed on suited us well, early out of camp and time mid day to write, identify and journal our findings. He put us close to the cats but always showed respect for the animals space. We never felt overly intrusive. It does take a minute to sit calmly near a huge lion and learn to contain your excitement!

The variety of habitats and landscape views in our itinerary brought a constant feel of eminent discovery. On our slowest day, we probably still saw hundreds of mammals and dozens of new bird and plant species. The tree species alone were a wonder, very different for us in their adaptations.

Although we had several travel days, they were great for us in terms of extended discovery. We had some of our best game spotting on these days, wild dogs and Buffalo eg. We also saw some rarer raptors like a gymkhana attacking a starling nest.

On camp change days, the crew was flawless. We always arrived in a well ordered camp. The cooking and baking was a wonder in itself, with fresh breads and confections daily. Fresh veggies and fruits were a treat, and the exotic game meats were tender and well spiced. Safari guest fared in older days could not possibly have been pampered like this!

Our favorite daily break was the morning tea and sundowner breaks. It felt traditional and gave a moment for the grandeur to sink in, often watching Elephants bathe or Zebra grazing. The sounds of the forest are like none other in the world!"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Victoria Falls Hotel

Victoria Falls Hotel

"Vic Falls Hotel stay"

3 nights Arrived 8 Jul 2018
"The overall experience was very good. The only letdown was the room. It did have a nice view of the garden and a tree with monkeys and birds. The room itself was not decorated. It was small. The bath was just ok no real style or era feel.

We suppose the very high cost in a facility of this nature and has its reasons. Perhaps it is expensive to be in Zimbabwe. The other parts of the stay were very good, but the room value seemed way below the cost.

We have stayed around the world and at that price expected a much larger and nicer room."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good

Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Facilities
Good
Rooms
Average
Food
Good

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